Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire unveils a plaque marking Cathedral’s Queens Green Canopy planting
On Tuesday 31 January Mrs Sarah Troughton, Wiltshire’s Lord Lieutenant, unveiled a plaque marking the spot in the Cathedral Close where seven saplings have been planted as part of the Queen's Green Canopy project. One tree marks each decade of her reign.
The Queens Green Canopy is a unique tree planting programme launched to mark Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and to create a legacy in honour of her 70 years of service. By planting trees throughout the country, the initiative aims to highlight the importance of trees and woodland as natural methods to clean the air that we breathe, reduce climate change and create habitats for wildlife.
The plaque marking the tree planting is mounted on a stone from the Cathedral Works Yard, a suitably natural ‘sculptural’ block complete with embedded fossils. Sourced from Chicksgrove Quarry, the same stone is used for Cathedral conservation and restoration and is taken from the same seam as the stone used to build the Cathedral in the 13th century.
Mrs Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant was joined by the Dean of Salisbury, The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, the Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer, Canon Kenneth Padley, Clerk of Works Gary Price and members of the Cathedral Chapter for a short unveiling ceremony, after which the Dean said a short pray for Her Late Majesty and King Charles.
The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos said: “Our green canopy is a living tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a cherished project for the initiative’s patron and champion, King Charles. We look forward to our saplings growing and thriving in sight of the Cathedral’s soaring Spire, giving joy to visitors and residents alike for hundreds of years to come.”
Mrs Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant said:
“Thousands of trees have been planted all over the county and across the UK, a moving tribute to a very special monarch, and a treasured friend. What better place to remember someone who has given so much to this country and who loved the natural world than the Cathedral’s lovely historic Close.”
The trees and plaque are sited at the far end of Marsh Close in the Cathedral Close and can be reached via an opening opposite the Harnham Gate. SEE MAP BELOW:
Photos by Finbarr Webster